Betty Fiori

Betty's Story

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Betty (Mary Elizabeth White) Fiori, passed away peacefully on Sunday (June 26, 2016) at the Sandpiper Nursing Home and Rehabilitation Center in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina. Betty, who was 83, had been struggling with Alzheimer's disease and dementia for several years prior to her death.
Betty was born on Feb. 11, 1933, in Fairmont, to the late Myrtle (Carson) White and Claude White.
She attended local Fairmont schools and graduated from East Fairmont High School in 1951. After graduation, Betty found employment at the Bell Telephone Company in downtown Fairmont. While working there, Betty became friends with Carmella (Sachetti) McIntosh and Rosemary Fiori. Rosemary married and moved to Niagara Falls, New York in the early 1950s. So what do friends do in the 1950s when they cannot see each other every day at work? They road trip! And so ensued an adventure that the Fiori kids still find amusing in 2016. Betty and Carmella decided they would take the 13-hour trip from Fairmont to Niagara Falls to visit Rosemary (remember, there was no interstate highway system yet, so what is now a five-hour trek was 13 hours in the early 1950s).
While in Niagara Falls, Rosemary introduced Betty to Nick Fiori, who was born and raised in Monongah, but now lived and worked in Niagara Falls. That introduction led to a three-month courtship and Betty and Nick were married on Sep. 18, 1954, at the Grace Lutheran Church in Fairmont. After a brief honeymoon to a beachfront resort (or perhaps a small motel over by Grafton, but who is judging?), the couple made their home in Niagara Falls where they lived for 13 years. While in New York, Betty was blessed with three children, Elizabeth Ann, Tina Marie, and Michael Anthony. In 1967, Betty, Nick and the kids (and one dog), moved from Niagara Falls back to Fairmont and Betty and her family then lived on Speedway Avenue for 48 years.
Betty was so happy to reside back in Fairmont where she lived next door to her mother and several brothers. In addition, one of her personal joys was maintaining a lifelong friendship with Richard and Loretta Everson, who were considered family to the Fiori's. Their passing several years ago was very difficult for Betty and came at a time when she was in the early stages of Alzheimer's.
Betty worked at Parson-Sauders and Lang's at the Middletown Mall for several decades before retiring in the 1990s. During her retirement, Betty enjoyed reading and visiting her children and grandchildren, all of whom had migrated southward to warmer weather in the Carolinas. In Sep. of 2015, Betty and Nick moved from Fairmont to Mount Pleasant, South Carolina to be closer to family.
Betty was a very kind and caring person and never seemed to meet a stranger (as evidenced by her many discussions with random people in grocery stores or at the mall). She was also a very spiritual person and would often talk of one day meeting up with those closest to her that had already passed. She was a lifelong member of Grace Lutheran Church.
Betty was preceded in death by her parents, four brothers and her daughter, Elizabeth (Tizzy) Fiori Hartley.
She is survived by her husband of 61 years, Nick of Mount Pleasant, South Carolina; son-in-law, Alan Hartley; and grandson, Graham Hartley of James Island, South Carolina; grandson, Cale Hartley of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; daughter, Tina McClain and husband Brett; and granddaughter, Marissa of Mount Pleasant, South Carolina; grandson, Kellen McClain of Charlotte, North Carolina; son, Michael Fiori and wife Ellen; and grandson, Nicholas of Huntersville, North Carolina; and grandson, Carson Fiori of Boone, North Carolina.
Condolences may be mailed to Nick Fiori at 413 Legends Club Drive, Mount Pleasant, South Carolina 29466. In lieu of flowers, a donation in Betty's name can be made to Alzheimer's research in your local area
A memorial service to celebrate Betty's life will be held at 1 p.m. Sunday, September 4, 2016 at Grandview Memorial Park and Mausoleum.